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3 May 2011 15:27:07
The pioneering Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care is gearing up to celebrate its first anniversary.
The Centre was set up in April 2010 thanks to a £1.1m grant awarded to the University to establish a major centre for social work research.
It was one of the largest research grants to be given in the field and was awarded by the Social Care Trust which is administered by the Charities Aid Foundation through a bequest from social work research pioneer Tilda Goldberg.
The Centre focuses on identifying what interventions work with people who use drugs and alcohol, with substance use being studied across a range of social work and social care settings.
In its first year the team has made great strides and is planning to deliver innovative, evidence-based research, which up until now, says Donald, has been lacking in social care.
Centre Director Dr Donald Forrester said: “We’ve made a great start. Over the last 12 months we’ve been the surveying the social work field – looking in depth at what social work interventions for substance use already exist within the areas of child and family care, care of the elderly and in relation to domestic violence and abuse.
“We will then share the evidence about what works in social care and promote the use of evidence-based approaches in practice, through training and fellowships. We’ve already begun a series of expert seminars and writing workshops and our second annual conference is planned for September. We’re confident that our cutting-edge research can help improve the service that people receive when they use social care facilities.”
The Centre’s overall aim is to improve social work practice and therefore to improve the quality of life of many vulnerable people. It will also help local authorities in the UK provide a more cost-effective service.
The Centre comprises a team of nine people employed on research grants who come from a variety of backgrounds, including social work, public health and psychology. The Centre also offers two scholarships each year for masters’ students from the University.
The Centre is also keen to spread its expertise by tendering for other funded projects. In the last year alone, it has bid for and won more than £250,000 grant funding for specific projects, including work for the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Donald said: “We are very proud to have Tilda Goldberg’s name linked to the University. Tilda was one of the most important social work researchers of the 20th Century and the aim of the centre is to continue and develop the type of rigorous research that she carried out.
“Over the next five years our aim is to build an international reputation for evidence-based practice.”
Photo shows: Back, left to right - Dr Cherilyn Dance, Kerry Lapworth, Professor Donald Forrester and Dr Sarah Galvani. Front - Dr Angela Thurnham.
Latest news» 2011» May» Social Work Centre celebrates first anniversary
